Program blueprint summary

Our blueprint for reinvention reflects what the community wants from the ATO – the kind of experience they want to have when they participate in the tax and super systems.

Chris Jordan AO, Commissioner of Taxation

We’re already working from our blueprint and expect to deliver the changes people want progressively in the years ahead. Some changes will happen in the near future and other changes will take longer – and delivery will be influenced by many factors, including legislative direction, finance and our work with other agencies.

Our blueprint for change

We are changing the way we work. We want to give our clients, staff and stakeholders the best possible experience with the tax and superannuation systems.

To achieve our vision of being a contemporary, service-oriented organisation, we are transforming how our clients experience the tax and superannuation systems. We will underpin this transformation through significant cultural change and improvements for our staff.

Our transformation is driven by the changing environment and expectations of the Australian community. It also supports the government’s drive for productivity, efficiency and deregulation.

In response to community and government needs, we created a blueprint for change. It was built on extensive consultation and an understanding of the interactions people have with the tax and superannuation systems and other government services.

The blueprint reflects the kind of experience the community and our staff want to have when they participate in the tax and superannuation systems. It is our anchor point and will provide a clear line of sight to what we want to achieve as we reinvent the ATO. Throughout the program, we’ll continue to consult with the community to ensure we’re on track to provide the right experience.

We’re already working from the blueprint and expect to deliver the changes people want progressively in the years ahead. Some changes will happen in the near future and other changes will take longer – and delivery will be influenced by many factors, including legislative direction, finance and our work with other agencies.

This version of our blueprint includes the future experiences for some of our clients but not all of them. We are working with our other client groups to understand their needs and reflect them in our future plans.

Community confidence is a foundation of our blueprint and is critical for maximising willing participation in the tax and superannuation systems. We’ll continue to build that confidence by ensuring everyone pays the right tax at the right time. We’ll support those who choose to do the right thing and deal with those who don’t. We’ll listen to our clients to get a comprehensive understanding of their circumstances and anticipate when they may need help.

Ultimately, the true measure of success of our reinvention will be client satisfaction and participation in the tax and superannuation systems.

Evolving the tax and superannuation systems

The broader environment, including community expectations, is changing rapidly. As this occurs, we will continue to review and evolve our administration of the tax and superannuation systems to ensure it remains contemporary and meets the needs of the day.

Right approach for the right time

Pre – 1986:ATO assessment era

1986 – 2014:Self-assessment era

Towards 2020 and beyond:Streamlined self-assessment

Australian environment

No personal computers or internet, reliance on TV and print media

Emergence of personal computers, the internet and mobile devices, and changing community expectations

We align to community standards and expectations and ensure taxpayers pay the right amount

Style of workplace

Focus on individual, rigid procedures and rules

Increased focus on teams and multiskilling, rigid procedures and rules

Agile and empowered networks of individuals and teams

Structural divisions

Regional divisions

Market based divisions

Whole-of-client, whole-of-government, whole-of-ATO

Primary medium

Paper records

Paper moving to electronic records

Integrated digital solutions

Business design focus

Internally focused

Listening to the community

Foster willing participation by making it easy to get things right and hard not to

Risk culture

No risk tolerance

Risk aversion

Sensible risk management

Risk approach

No risk differentiation, random selection

Compliance model and risk differentiation framework

Tailored engagement based on risk

Compliance focus

100% assessment

Risk based reviews and audits

Increasing voluntary compliance

What people told us they need in the future

During our community consultations, we explored what people needed to help get their tax and superannuation right and make the experience easier for them.

Clients

Fix the basics:

Remove irritants with the things I use frequently, for example make information on ato.gov.au easier to find and understand

Minimise red tape

Help me to be aware of my entitlements and obligations.

Foster confidence and trust:

Give me certainty of my tax and super position, in a timely way. Let me know quickly when you notice something isn’t right and help me to resolve it

Deal with people who are not complying or who are abusing the tax or superannuation systems.

Tailor my interactions:

Provide interactions which are easy to access, secure, timely and available at a time that suits me, and are professional and respectful

Work with other government agencies and intermediaries to improve my whole-of-system experience

Keep pace with technology trends making services contemporary and easy for me to get things right.

Help me navigate complexity:

Provide information and services which are tailored to my behaviour and situation, and are easy to find and understand. This will help me to get things right and avoid mistakes

Foster excellent working relationships through early engagement

Provide the right advice at the right time.

Show me what I need to do, particularly when my normal practices have to change.

Staff

Fix the basics:

Remove irritants from the tools I rely on

Minimise red tape, including empowering me to make decisions and be accountable

Raise my awareness of how I can enact change by giving me practical examples that I can build on and easily use.

Valued and supported:

Respect me for my experience and skills, and trust me to use them

Listen to my suggestions and feedback

Give me strong, consistent leaders who support my development, provide clear expectations and guidance and who deal with underperformance.

Effective tools and processes:

Show me what I need to do, particularly when my normal practices have to change

Give me access to technology and law that enables me to get the job done

Communicate in a way that is consistent, timely, tailored, and honest, so I understand the practical implications for me and my work.

Guiding principles for our transformation

Five principles will guide our transformation of the client and staff experience.

Principle 1: Easy to get things right

Contemporary digital experiences provided in the way people expect

Strong relationships support the right outcomes

Integrated with natural systems used in day-to-day life and red tape is minimised

Emphasis on prevention before correction

Design of the system is agile and responsive to change and demonstrates our commitment to continuous improvement

Right information and services at the right time. Answers are easy to find and understand.

Principle 2: Tailored experience

Interactions are tailored and reflect people’s behaviour and circumstances

Expectations and accountability are clear. Clients and staff understand what they need to do

Use of data and information anticipates needs, tailors services, is efficient and identifies areas of concern early, and helps to get things right.

Principle 3: Excellent service

Interactions are professional, respectful and timely

Easy access to required services and information in a secure and timely way

Commitments to government and the community are met

We measure and report on what is valued by government and the community

We provide accurate information that can be relied on and understood.

Principle 4: Fair and respectful treatment

Contributing to effective tax and superannuation systems is valued

Transparency and early engagement lead to increased certainty

Focus on enhancing community confidence for clients and staff.

Different views are heard and considered

Action is taken on issues with openness, empathy and integrity

Quality, pragmatic decisions are made in a timely manner

Different perspectives are taken into account in determining outcomes and resolving disputes if they arise.

Principle 5: Service delivered in the most effective and efficient way

The ATO may not always be the provider of services to the community. The ATO will partner with service providers to deliver efficient and effective services

Focus is on a whole-of-client experience

Working collaboratively within the ATO, across government and with the community to achieve the best outcomes.

Tailored engagement based on risk

We take a risk-based approach and our interactions will be based on behaviours and choices.

We will tailor our future engagement with people according to the risk we believe their behaviour and affairs present to the tax and superannuation systems. Our approach will be determined by the complexity of people’s situations, the transparency of their affairs and their behaviour and choices.

Minimal touch

Minimal effort is needed to meet tax and super obligations and there will be minimal interaction with the ATO.

For example:

Clients with straight forward affairs who try to do the right thing.

Clients who have transparent affairs, including items like employment income and investment income which is shared with the ATO through third parties.

Low touch

Whilst still low, a slightly increased level of effort or attention for clients who need to access tax and super information, services and tools to meet their particular needs.

For example:

Clients who need advice or information to help them get things right.

Clients who are willing to engage with the ATO, such as contacting us to organise a payment arrangement.

Clients who may need gentle reminders to help get things right.

Clients with reasonably transparent affairs, such as, having to include information in your tax return that has not been prefilled.

Business which use software that automatically calculates and reports information.

Medium touch

An increasing interaction level for clients who seek our support and advice on tax and super matters when they encounter something new or complex, or who need increased assistance to get things right.

For example:

Clients with low transparency will have the ATO engage proactively to understand their affairs.

Clients who need advice, services or information to help them navigate more complex tax and super issues.

Clients who may need firmer reminders to help get things right.

Clients who need higher levels of certainty around their tax and super affairs.

High touch

Increased attention from the ATO.

For example:

Clients with more complex affairs receive strong levels of support and engagement in relation to tax and super matters.

Clients who are not transparent will have increased ATO attention to understand their affairs.

Clients who take a position on the law different to the ATO, should expect increased focus to resolve the differences.

Those choosing not to comply or who regularly take controversial interpretations of the law will receive intense attention from the ATO.

Those who abuse the tax and superannuation system will be dealt with using the full force of the law.

Key changes to meet client needs

We’ll tailor products and services to your needs. You’ll find it easier to get things right.

The future client experience will deliver contemporary products and services that focus on client needs and make it easier to get things right and hard not to. We will:

fix the basics

foster confidence and trust by providing certainty and acting with integrity

tailor interactions to client needs

help clients to navigate the tax and superannuation systems.

We’re already working towards delivering these future experiences. But some changes will take more time than others – and delivery will be influenced by a range of factors, including legislative direction, finance and our work with other agencies.

This version of our blueprint includes the future experiences for some of our clients but not all of them. We are working with our other client groups to understand their needs and reflect them in our future plans.

Individuals

Better services across government through an individual profile to deal with government online and in a single place.

Make it easy by telling government once and knowing government work together to improve services.

My circumstances are understood with tailored engagement and services based on behaviour and choices.

Right tax at the right time through a personalised tax rate and withholding at source.

A minimal touch through a streamlined tax and super experience.

Small business

Better services across government through a single and secure entry point to online government services.

Make it easy by telling us once.

More time for business through integrated digital solutions between ATO, tax agents and business.

Getting what I need when I need it with service anytime.

My circumstances are understood with tailored engagement based on circumstances, behaviour and choices.

Privately owned and wealthy groups

The value of conversation through excellent working relationships with the ATO.

Getting what I need when I need it with access to the right services for each circumstance.

By being open about my affairs, I know where I stand and the transparency of affairs allows the ATO to help clients and tailor services.

My circumstances are understood with tailored engagement based on tax risk, including behaviour and choices.

Publicly listed business

The value of conversation through excellent working relationships with the ATO.

Our contribution is recognised with customised service for Australia’s largest taxpayers.

We know where we stand through regular and purposeful engagement.

Our circumstances are understood with tailored engagement based on business size, complexity and behaviour.

Not for profit: charities

Better services across government with a single and secure entry point to online government services.

Strong confidence in the sector through a transparent public register that provides integrity in the system.

More time to run my charity by having the right services when needed.

My circumstances are understood with tailored engagement that includes timely, proactive services.

Intermediaries: tax agents

Partners in the tax and superannuation systems through excellent working relationships with the ATO, and acknowledging agents’ collective role in improving compliance.

Adapting to change with an evolving business model that reflects broader environmental changes.

One place to interact with a single and secure entry point for online government services and information.

Make it easier with integrated practice software which links to client’s software and the ATO.

My circumstances are understood with tailored engagement based on circumstances and client preferences.

Intermediaries: software developers

Partners in the tax and superannuation systems by implementing solutions that make compliance with tax and superannuation systems a by-product of core business activities.

Adapting to change by understanding and responding to the ongoing broader environmental changes.

Make it easier with software solutions that seamlessly interact with the ATO and government.

Shared journey by understanding operating environments and working together to capitalise on opportunities.

Right people, right time allowing for tailored engagement.

Superannuation: APRA regulated super funds

Make it easier with digital and seamless interactions.

Better services across government by telling us once, through natural processes.

Getting what I need when I need it so information and advice is timely and tailored to circumstances.

The value of conversation through excellent working relationships with the ATO, resulting in good outcomes.

Regulatory functions

Superannuation: Self-managed super funds

Make it easier through a single entry point to access information and services.

More time to grow my savings by having integrated digital solutions which save time.

My circumstances are understood, allowing tailored engagement as a result.

Excise payers

Trusted to manage obligations by being approved to operate and manage highly valuable commodities.

Make it easy by telling government once, through natural systems where possible.

More time for getting on with business by managing obligations through integrated digital solutions.

Getting what we need when we need it by having services available anytime.

Our circumstances are understood allowing for tailored engagement.

Key changes to improve the staff experience

We’ll set up our staff for success in their work, putting clients at the centre of everything we do.

Our staff asked us to develop the capabilities and expertise required to succeed. We’ll support our people to broaden their knowledge and expertise and deliver a contemporary client experience. We will:

empower our staff to make decisions

value our staff and make them feel valued for their contribution

give our staff the right tools and resources to do the job

fix the basics, quickly identifying and addressing any irritants and blockers.

Our emerging culture

Our culture is the way we do things at the ATO. It underpins how we create the right experience for our clients and our staff. Cultural change supports our commitment to making our reinvention a reality.

We want our people to be:

Client focused

We put clients, external and internal, at the centre of everything we do.

United and connected

We work as one team to deliver the right outcomes for the community.

Empowered and trusted

We are supported to take ownership, exercise judgment and make reasonable decisions.

Future oriented

We will be flexible and adapt to meet immediate and future challenges.

Passionate and committed

We are passionate about our role in serving the community. We bring professionalism, energy and determination to everything we do.

We also want to create enduring cultural change. To achieve this we will focus on:

leadership and accountability

values and behaviours

rewards and consequences

workforce

practices and processes

underpinning systems and structures.

This short version of our blueprint summarises what people said they needed from us in the future and the changes we’re making to meet those needs.

Our commitment to you

We are committed to providing you with accurate, consistent and clear information to help you understand your rights and entitlements and meet your obligations.

If you follow our information and it turns out to be incorrect, or it is misleading and you make a mistake as a result, we will take that into account when determining what action, if any, we should take.

Some of the information on this website applies to a specific financial year. This is clearly marked. Make sure you have the information for the right year before making decisions based on that information.

If you feel that our information does not fully cover your circumstances, or you are unsure how it applies to you, contact us or seek professional advice.